The report claims United are fast-tracking a deal for the promising stopper, who currently plays for Standard Liege’s youth side.

Sebtaoui is just 16 but he is said to have impressed United’s scouts at a number of youth tournaments, to such an extent that he will reportedly join United on July 1 despite interest from Anderlecht, Roma and Newcastle United.

Were he to arrive at United, he would join another promising young stopper in the form of Vanja Milinkovic.

A current Belgium under-16 international, Sebtaoui was born on April 1 1999 and his arrival, were it to be formalised, would maintain United’s work in bringing some of Europe’s brightest young prospects to the club.

That said, his age and position means it is likely to be quite some time before he made a challenge for the first-team if he did ultimately arrive.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.